Apple plotting iPhone lineup overhaul, including ‘foldable’ version by 2026: report

Apple is reportedly plotting a major shakeup of its iPhone lineup as it looks to jump start the iconic smartphone’s sagging sales.

The Cupertino, Calif.-based tech giant is “planning three straight years of major iPhone redesigns” – beginning with the rollout of the new “skinny” iPhone Air model this September and culminating in 2026 with the launch of a long-rumored foldable iPhone, Bloomberg reported.

The Air version of the iPhone will be reminiscent of the Apple’s thinner, lighter laptop of the same name. The sleek design will come with some drawbacks, including less battery life than the flagship iPhone and only one rear camera.

Apple will also unveil its upgraded iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max this fall, with few upgrades beyond a better camera and more color options, the outlet said.

The bigger debut comes next year, when the foldable iPhone. Codenamed internally as “V68,” the secretive device will reportedly feature four cameras and is slated to enter full production early next year ahead of release next fall, according to Bloomberg.

Further down the line in 2027, Apple is expected to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the iPhone’s existence with a new “curved glass” design for the iPhone 20.

The planned revamp comes at a critical time for CEO Tim Cook and Apple, which has struggled with a messy rollout of artificial intelligence features onto its devices. Meanwhile, iPhone, which still comprise the bulk of the company’s revenue, have stagnated in recent years.

At its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, Apple admitted that it needed more time to complete its long-delayed overhaul of the Siri voice assistant – the planned centerpiece of what the company has dubbed “Apple Intelligence.”

Last week, Bloomberg reported that Apple was in early talks to use Google’s Gemini AI model to help revamp Siri.

The company has also been hit hard by President Trump’s tariffs on its key manufacturing partners like China – with Cook telling analysts last month that they could add $1.1 billion to the company’s costs in the current quarter.

In response, Cook has sought to lessen Apple’s reliance on China-made products by shifting more production to India and even to the US. The Apple CEO recently touted the company’s American manufacturing plans during an Oval Office meeting with Trump.

 Apple will also need to navigate the challenge of the Justice Department’s antitrust case. The feds have accused Apple of taking illegal steps to cement the dominance of its iPhone ecosystem.